Indiana Township man left homeless after fire levels house, policeman alerts neighbor of the blaze - TribLIVE

An Indiana Township man is homeless after a fire destroyed his home Saturday night, officials said.

Chief Adam Siemianowski of Rural Ridge Volunteer Fire Company said a West Deer police officer spotted smoke around 10:30 p.m. coming from the home in the 250 block of Little Deer Creek Valley Road. The officer was patrolling by Pittsburgh Northeast Airport in West Deer, which is about a 3-mile drive away.

“West Deer police went over to check it out, and sure enough, it was a fully involved house fire that was not even called in by the resident yet,” Siemianowski said.

Indiana: Structure fire – 250 block Little Deer Creek Road; fire from multiple communities are responding with EMS. Not under control, no injures reported at this time.

— Allegheny County (@Allegheny_Co) August 16, 2020

The man, whom officials did not identify, lives with his cat. He was able to get himself and the cat safely out of the house, Siemianowski said.

The man was taken to a hospital to be evaluated but has since been released.

The Allegheny County Fire Marshal is investigating the cause of the fire. A request for comment on the status of the investigation wasn’t answered Sunday.

Siemianowski wanted to stress that firefighters weren’t delayed in getting to the scene by roadwork that is occurring along Little Deer Creek Valley Road.

Eight fire companies responded to the blaze. The additional fire companies were called because of the humidity, Siemianowski said.

“Because of the road situation, we automatically dispatched (three) other companies that were within that northern area, all three West Deer companies,” Siemianowski said. “There was no delay with any fire protection due to the road closure. We pregamed it. We’re used to doing it, unfortunately.”

Firefighters had the blaze under control within an hour and a half.

The house was destroyed.

“The house was just a pile of cinders; it’s gone,” Siemianowski said. “Honestly, I don’t know how he lived.”

The flames spread to a neighboring home, but firefighters were able to put them out before they caused significant damage. The fire damaged the front roof and eaves and part of the house.

“There was some water damage, some minor fire damage,” Siemianowski said.

Two firefighters suffered minor injuries. One had an asthma attack, and the other was overcome by heat. Neither was taken to a hospital, Siemianowski said.

The man who lives in the neighboring house wasn’t hurt.

The American Red Cross of Greater Pennsylvania on Twitter said it has provided one adult with shelter, clothing and food and is working to connect with other affected residents. A spokeswoman didn’t respond to a request for further comment on Sunday.

We responded overnight to the 200 Block of Deer Creek Valley Road following a multi-family fire. To date we have provided one adult with resources for shelter, clothing, and food while we work to connect with other affected residents.

— American Red Cross Greater PA (@RedCrossGPA) August 16, 2020

The man who lives in the neighboring house was at home Sunday. He declined to give his name but described the ordeal.

The man said he had been watching television and had dozed off. He awoke to a police officer banging on his door.

When he looked out the front window, he saw that his neighbor’s house was on fire.

“The whole house was in a blaze — the whole thing,” he said. “The whole grass, all in the front and around.”

The man said the fire caught the front of his house on fire.

“What a nightmare,” the man said.

The man believes God saved him. If he hadn’t heard the police officer, he doesn’t think he would have survived, he said.

“It woke me up. If that house really would have caught fire and somebody (wouldn’t) have woken me up, and it filled up with smoke, I wouldn’t be here.”

Madasyn Lee is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Madasyn at 724-226-4702, mlee@triblive.com or via Twitter .

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